Ingrid Capacity and BW ESS continue large-scale expansion of energy storage in Sweden
Ingrid Capacity and BW ESS are starting the construction of energy storages at eight locations in Sweden. An output of more than 200 MW is now in construction.
The energy storages are being built in Falköping (16 MW), Karlskrona (16 MW), Katrineholm (20 MW), Mjölby (8 MW), Sandviken (20 MW), Vaggeryd (11 MW), Värnamo (20 MW) and Västerås (11 MW). A storage with a power of 20 MW correlates to what a Swedish town with 40,000 inhabitants on average consumes during peak hours.
In September, Ingrid Capacity and BW ESS announced the start of six constructions that will contribute to a total output of 89 MW.
“This second collaboration with Ingrid Capacity represents a substantial expansion of our energy storage asset base in Sweden, in a move that solidifies our dedication to supporting Swedish grid reliability. It is a decisive step forward in accelerating the country’s transition towards clean energy, and a testament to the high quality of the Ingrid Capacity team,” shared Erik Strømsø, CEO of BW ESS.
URGENT NEED TO STRENGTHEN SWEDEN’S GRID CAPACITY
Several recent surveys and opinion pieces have shown that Swedish industry and society see an urgent need to rapidly strengthen grid capacity. The energy storage system is charged when demand for electricity is low, and feed back into the system when demand is high. It increases the utilization rate of the existing system and reduces costs for new infrastructure. Therefore, energy storage will make the electricity system more flexible, resilient and cost-efficient, and is a prerequisite for the green transition. With lead times of 1-2 years from project start to finalization, energy storage is also a fast way to strengthen the system.
“Our historic expansion already fundamentally changes the Swedish energy system, contributing to much needed stability, resilience, and cost-efficiency. In parallel, Ingrid Capacity is already having further concrete plans in Sweden, while looking at important opportunities in other European markets. Energy storage is crucial to solve electrification, and electrification is crucial to solve the climate challenge and secure welfare,” said Karin Lindberg Salevid, Chief Operations Officer of Ingrid Capacity.
ENERGY STORAGE CREATES GREAT SAVINGS FOR SOCIETY
As a first step, the investment will lower prices in the balancing market. In the long term, the facilities can also be used to reduce the need for investments in cables and overhead lines, by cutting consumption peaks locally and regionally.
In addition, the energy storages create a buffer against extreme prices on the spot market. Ingrid Capacity’s expansion is thereby estimated to mean reduced operating costs of several billion SEK annually for Svenska kraftnät, Sweden’s transmission system operator. At the same time they contribute to lowering the end users’ electricity costs.
The investment is subject to regulatory approvals, which are expected to be obtained during the coming months.
For any media inquiries, please contact:
Ingrid Capacity: Erik Zsiga, erik.zsiga@ingridcapacity.com, +46 73 962 42 16
BW ESS: Hana Schoon, hana.schoon@bw-group.com, +65 9788 5629
About Ingrid Capacity:
Ingrid Capacity is the leading actor in energy storage in the Nordic region. With flexible resources and storage, the company is creating an optimized and resilient electricity system with a focus on cost-effectiveness, enabling the green transition. Currently, Ingrid Capacity has over 100 MW in the construction phase, 300+ MW in the pipeline for construction, and an additional 800 MW in development. The company was founded in 2022 and is currently active in Sweden, Finland, and Estonia.
About BW ESS:
BW ESS is a dedicated energy storage business with a globally diversified project portfolio comprising over 400 MWh under construction and over 1GW of ready to build projects. Through its network of developer investments and partnerships, it is further supporting the advancement of several sizeable pipelines. The company combines the benefits of scale and centralisation at a platform level, with local development partners, suppliers, contractors and financial institutions, to deliver market leading BESS projects. BW ESS is a part of BW Group, a global energy and maritime infrastructure company with a growing portfolio of clean energy investments, including batteries, solar, offshore wind and biogas.